Swim Safely: Quick tips

Swimming is a great way for the whole family to get active. Follow these tips to stay safe in and around the water.

Swim safely.

Take swim lessons if you don’t know how to swim.

Sign your kids up for swim lessons as soon as they are ready. This can be as early as age 1.

Swim near a lifeguard and never swim alone.

Don’t drink alcohol if you are swimming or watching children.

Use floating toys like water wings and noodles for fun – not for safety. Don’t use them in place of life jackets.

Watch out for rip currents. A rip current is when the water pulls you away from shore. If you get caught in a rip current, swim along the shoreline until you are out of the current, then swim to shore.

Watch children carefully.

Make sure at least one adult is always watching when children are in or around the water.

Don’t read or use the phone while you are watching young children.

Watch all children in the water, even if they know how to swim.

Make sure pools are safe.

If you have a pool, install a 4-sided pool fence that’s at least 4 feet high and separates the pool from the house and yard.

Use self-closing and self-latching gates that open outward and are out of reach of children, so kids can’t get to the pool when you aren’t watching them.

Check water and weather conditions before going swimming.

Learn the meaning of colored safety flags used at the beach, and obey all warnings.

Get out of the water right away if you hear thunder or see lightning. Strong winds can also be dangerous.

Don’t swim in the ocean, lakes, or rivers after heavy rain. Water is more likely to be polluted after a rain storm.

Check for signs or warnings about bacteria or other pollution in the water before swimming.

Protect yourself and others from germs in the water.

Try not to get water in your mouth.

Make sure everyone is clean before swimming. Shower with soap. Wash your hands after using the bathroom or changing diapers.

Take your kids on bathroom breaks or check diapers often. Change diapers in a bathroom or a diaper-changing area.

Protect your skin from the sun.

Wear plenty of sunscreen with a minimum SPF of 15.

Put on more sunscreen every couple of hours and after swimming or sweating.

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Page last updated:
Tuesday, March 03, 2015